By Peter Moore at Plumpton 20th November 2023
Local trainer Gary Moore and son Jamie made up for a disappointing day at Fontwell 24 hours earlier by claiming a double at Plumpton’s Racehorse Sanctuary Raceday on Monday afternoon.
The Horsham based trainer was fancied to saddle a selection of winners with some well fancied horses at Fontwell, but the Moore household had a day to forget yesterday ending the day with a blank.
However today was different with the pair coming up trumps with Moore saddling Saligo Bay in the second race and Kotmask successful in the fifth race on the card.
Saligo Bay’s task of winning was made easier after Hiaou fell at the last while challenging Saligo Bay, with the five year old going on to win by 20 lengths.
Jamie Moore brought up the double for himself and his father with a comfortable ride on the five year old Kotmask, winning by nine lengths.
The opening race of the day featured the very well fancied Shanagh Bob. The five year old gelding, a £200,000 purchase at the Cheltenham Sales last December lived up to his billing after being sent off as the 2-9 favourite, made all to see off All The Glory by seven lengths under James Bowen in the Novice Hurdles Race over 2m 4f.
The five-year-old scored decisively despite not liking the track according to Bowen, who told Sky Sports Racing: “I’m delighted with that, as it’s not ideal conditions for him being around a sharp track. I could never get him rolling until after the last.
“He’s a big horse for a track such as this and he only got going when I gave him a flick after the last.”
Brave Kingdom made a winning return after a 690 day absence when scoring on his first start over fences in the feature race of the afternoon The Mik Tubb Uncle Eli Memorial Novices Limited Handicap Steeplechase over 2m 3f.
The Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old had last run when winning at Taunton in December 2021, and was victorious by two and a half lengths under Bryony Frost on his comeback.
Frost gave the horse the perfect ride by making all around the Sussex track- to win by two and a half lengths.
The Royal Yeomanry Association Amateur Jockeys Handicap Hurdle race ended with yet another winner for Winchester trainer Chris Gordon.
Gordon, who loves sending horses to the Sussex track saddled the 15-8 favourite under Molly Landau to victory to keep up his impressive winning percentage at the track.
Landau rode the horse on his previous outing where he finished second at Exeter and again showed much promise as a jockey with an excellent ride on the six year old to get home by half a length from No Rematch.